Having a breaking apartment lease attorney Richmond, TX on your side can make the situation easier. Although not often, tenants will sometimes break their apartment lease for several reasons. They might have broken their end of the leasing agreement, need to move partway through their term, or some other circumstance. Some of these situations can become lengthy processes where you could end up in court, but a breaking apartment lease attorney reduces the chance of the worst result.
What’s the worst-case scenario when a tenant breaks their lease agreement?
The worst-case scenario is to get the case dragged to the courtroom. No matter the reason, court cases always take a long time to resolve, even with the best lawyers on your side. Finding yourself in a court tussle with a tenant can waste time and money. Although a proper lawyer can smooth out the process, that is not money or time you can get back.
A breaking apartment lease attorney can protect your best interests by trying to resolve the issue before it reaches the point of an official lawsuit. A case surrounding breaking leases is under landlord-tenant law, which is considered a civil case. And, like all civil cases, there is a chance it can be settled before it reaches the courtroom doors.
If you are a landlord that does not know what to do in the face of a tenant breaking the apartment lease, call The Okonji Law Office. The Managing Attorney, John Okonji, can help you reach the best result considering the details.
Situations Where a Breaking Apartment Lease Attorney Richmond, TX is Needed
Most issues between you and your tenant can be resolved between yourselves. The leasing agreement serves as a contract and a guiding point on how to hold the conversation. For example, if the tenant does not pay their rent by the law and the agreement, you can evict them for breaking the agreement. Of course, your tenants can also use the agreement to defend themselves since they also have rights.
Once both parties reach a compromise, there is no need for a lawyer to step in. However, if both sides do not reach a suitable answer, a lawyer or legal mediator may need to help. John Okonji from The Okonji Law Office practices real estate law and has experience handling real estate transactions and landlord-tenant disputes.
When is the best time to call a lawyer to solve the situation?
Calling in a lawyer means you are resorting to legal methods, which means you are ready for the long haul. If you know that you and the other party will not settle anytime soon, a lawyer can smooth over the situation and help you conclude faster than by yourself. Of course, if the other party calls a lawyer first, you can call your own to help protect your best interests.
When neither party will back down, it is time to call in the legal experts. A breaking apartment lease attorney can use their knowledge of the law and expertise to find a suitable settlement. Of course, suppose your tenant refuses to back down. In that case, the matter can escalate further until both parties are satisfied with the conclusion, whether it means a monetary settlement, eviction, or some other condition.
What Happens When a Tenant Breaks a Lease
Breaking a lease is equivalent to breaking a signed, written contract. Of course, this is detrimental to you and your business, so you want a breaking apartment lease attorney to smooth out the situation and ensure everything is handled properly. When a tenant breaks the lease, they will face the legal consequences. Usually, the consequence for breaking a lease includes the following:
- Paying hefty fines and fees – often, they will lose at least the security deposit.
- Facing a lawsuit – you have the right to take them to court because of the financial burden they just put you under.
- Impacting their credit score – breaking a lease can put a dent in their creditworthiness.
- Paying the rest of the rent – if they decide to move out when there’s still time left on their lease, they are responsible for paying for the rest of the time they would have been there if they had not left before the lease term was up.
Not all reasons for breaking a lease in Texas will force the tenant to face the consequences. There are a few situations where the tenant will not have to pay you the remainder of the lease and any other fees. Such situations only happen if the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, an active service member that needs to move ASAP, states that the building is inhabitable (dangerous criminal activity, pests, mold, broken security gate, etc.), the landlord violates privacy rights, or management has been harassing them.
Moving in with a partner, finding another home, or moving closer to their workplace are unacceptable reasons to break a lease in a court of law. A landlord-tenant lawyer can turn that around and get you the remuneration you deserve. If one of your tenants breaks their lease, you will need a breaking lease agreement attorney to help protect your best interests. Call John Okonji from The Okonji Law Office to get a better handle on the situation.
Get the Legal Help You Need
When you get into a legal situation, having a lawyer to back you up can ease the situation. If one of your tenants breaks their lease for an unjustifiable reason, a lawyer can help you file a lawsuit or help seek the remuneration you deserve. Call a trustworthy lawyer like John Okonji.
The Okonji Law Office proudly services landlords and others who need his legal advice in Harris and Fort Bend Counties. Get in touch with a breaking apartment lease attorney Richmond, TX now.
Richmond, Texas Fun Facts:
- The city was originally incorporated in 1837.
- It was one of the 19 cities to be incorporated by the Republic of Texas.
- It bore witness to the Battle of Richmond, which was a feud over Fort Bend County.